He Pre-emptively Stood His Ground

William Woodward of Titusville, Fla., awaiting trial on two murder counts in September, might normally have a weak defense under the state's "stand your ground" law (which requires an "imminent" threat of a forcible felony) because evidence indicates that any threats against him were made previously and not at the time of the shooting. However, in a court filing, Woodward's lawyers justified the pre-emptive ground-standing by referring to the "Bush Doctrine" employed by the U.S. in invading Iraq in 2003 (the U.S. "standing its ground" against Iraqi weapons of mass destruction). (The judge promised a ruling by November.)